HCR MINI-Challenge #23: Ansel Adams Tribute

#1

ANSEL ADAMS TRIBUTE

THE HARDCORE MODELING MINI-CHALLENGE!
Ansel Adams Tribute

Sculpt an enviroment based on the wonderful body of work o fphotography master Ansel adams.

Who is Ansel Adams?
From Wikipedia

Ansel Easton Adams (February 20, 1902 – April 22, 1984) was an American photographer and environmentalist, best known for his black-and-white photographs of the American West and primarily Yosemite National Park, though one of his most famous photographs was “Moonrise over Hernandez” made in New Mexico.

“Ansel Adams,” wrote John Szarkowski, of the N.Y. Museum of Modern Art, “attuned himself more precisely than any photographer before him to a visual understanding of the specific quality of the light that fell on a specific place at a specific moment. For Adams the natural landscape is not a fixed and solid sculpture but an insubstantial image, as transient as the light that continually redefines it. This sensibility to the specificity of light was the motive that forced Adams to develop his legendary photographic technique.”[64]

Because of his outstanding contributions to the photography field, Ansel Adams has been chosen as the first photography master we will tribute.

There are two ways to participate:


[b]
[ul]
[li]Faithful Enviroment : You may sculpt a 3d represenation of one of his works.[/li]
[li]Creative Enviroment: Thisopen type of entry allows you to beto be inspired by one or more of his photos. [/li]

[/b]
[/ul][i][u]THE CHALLENGE:___________________________[/i][/u]

[i][b][/i][/b]Sculpt, in a period of ONE MONTH , one or more 3D model(s). The original piece used for inspiration can be in 2d (a painting) or 3d (A bust or sculpture). An artist my be inspired by a style of art.

NOTE: The artwork you use for inspiration can come from ANY art period.

[color=darkorange]
[/color]

The idea of this “mini-challenge” is to simulate an impossible deadline for a project. The artists will have at their discretion how detailed the models they will be working on, what program they will be using, the amount of models, and if the models will be shaded/ rigged.
[color=orange]
[/color]

There are fourways to participate:

[ul]
[li]Faithful Enviroment :You can build a model based on a classic photo.[/li][li]Creative Enviroment: You may sculpt a model inspired by a classic photo.[/li][/ul]
[i][u]THE CHALLENGE:___________________________[/i][/u]

Sculpt, in a period of 1 month , one or more 3D representations of a detailed environment. For this challenge the quality of the details on the sculpture is important.

The idea of this “mini-challenge” is to simulate an impossible deadline for a project. The artists will have at their discretion how detailed the models they will be working on, what program they will be using, the amount of models, and if the models will be shaded/ rigged.

[i][u]EVALUATION CRITERIA:______________________ [/i][/u]

[i][b][/i]Detailed RESEARCH[/b], and attention to detail are key for ALL entries. Please before doing an entry do your homework.

The best model will be selected by an open vote
for these categories:
[ul]
[li][font=Verdana]Best WIP thread [/li][li]Best Model Collection (2 or more) [/li][/ul]and the big one of course:
[ul]
[li]Best Model [/li][/ul]The winner will get bragging rights and a small banner
designed by me.

[color=darkorange]DATELINE! January 15, 2010[/color]

YOU HAVE One MONTH to do the challenge.

CHALLENGE SPECIFIC RULES:
[ul]
[li]No work taken DIRECTLY from an existing tutorial. You may use an existing tutorial only for reference.[/li][li]You may NOT use a pre exiting models. All models must be done from scratch.[/li][li]An artist may change from [color=darkorange]Creative Enviroment [/color], or Faithful Environment whenever he or she wishes.[/li][li]The artist of the original concept art MUST BE given credit.[/li][li]ALL ARTWORK must be DONE FROM SCRATCH[/li][/ul]GENERAL RULES:
[ul]
[li]WIP thread should be posted on the Hardcore Modeling Challenge forum and should follow the following naming convention: HARDCORE MODELING!:ANSEL ADAMS Tribute: <<TYPE OF ENTRY >>[/li][li]For each image you should post: [/li]
Title of Model Completed[Model Images]

Comments:
[/ul]And should be posted on both the individual WIP thread on on this master thread.
[ul]
[li]For each model 3 Orthographic renders ARE REQUIRED. These renders are for TOP, SIDE, BOTTOM views and a BEAUTY RENDER.BEAUTY RENDER: [/li]
Final RENDERS should be rendered at 1600 X 1200 OR 1200 x 1600 in JPG format.(Post only as link) A smaller 800x 600 OR 600 x 800 image should be posted on the threads.

ORTHOGRAPHIC RENDERINGS:

Ortographic renderings ARE REQUIRED for EACH entry and should be rendered at 800 x 600 OR 600x800.

  • This means you need to submit renders of the from the Front, Sides (2), Back, Top and bottom.
    [li]TURNTABLE ANIMATION (VOLUNTARY).[/li]
  • I recomentd to aid the voters a turntable rendering of the model. It would have to be done in QuickTime or Windows Media at a resolution of 600 x 400 OR 300 x 200. The render might be done as a Quickshade or Beauty Render.
    [li]Please add a brief text description about your piece.[/li][li]The artist also has to post total length of time it took to do and program used.[/li][li]Future topics for hardcore Challenges will be picked at random from the list on [/li]this >>thread << (The author will be given credit). So guys keep them coming.
    [li]Post on this thread your link to your WIP thread and your FINAL piece.[/li][li]Only participants who follow the rules and submit a final entry will be eligible for the voting process.[/li][li]Any piece caught breaking the rules will be taken off the thread.[/li][/ul]Good Luck

-Roberto[/font]

#2

I love Ansel Adams work, this looks like a perfect chance to use Landscape generation packages such as Vue or Terragen, is this allowed? If so I am so definitely in :slight_smile:
cyphyr

#3

Yah, I remembered watching that Ansel Adams was the life of the party, and had limitless energy. Probably one of the few artists that can make a near perfect to perfect image (just a matter of opinion). Goodluck Roberto, and to the challengers.

#4

I won’t be alive for that date. Sorry. :blush:

#5

Well I intend to live forever…

:slight_smile:

FIXED.

-R

#6

Let me get back to you on this one.

-R

#7

So useing vue to sculpt terrain is o.k.?
When i saw this i was thinking zbrush then vue.

Does the finished scene have to be just the model or can i create an entire scene (with trees, texture, etc.)?

(never joined a HCMC, but this one seemed right up my ally.)

#8

Good question about Vue and Terragen. I was thinking a lot of this challenge could be accomplished easier with those tools…

#9

Interesting question as regards using vue/terragen. On the one hand the subject matter is made for those softwares, on the other, would using them really count as “hardcore modeling”?

Not to diminish the skills of those who use those softwares in the slightest. I just wonder if one would really call them “modeling” applications or some other discipline.

#10

Now the problem is the deadline is long past. Who won? Maybe you can hold another one due on Jan 15th, 2010? :slight_smile:

#11

Way to bring up a dead thread! :wink: j/k

#12

jar jar guys.

Fixed the date.

I would prefer if the modeling was done without the use of programs like vue/terragen.

#13

So does this mean the person who does use one of these programs have points taken away during judging? For Example:

Artist A used Vue or Terragen, and it looks really good. But Artist B used 3d Max and it looks good, but not as good as A. Does B win?

( I personally don’t use Vue or Terragen, but if someone else uses it here I’d probably lose since Im using Max)

#14

Well , all of us vote for teh artist that wins, not just Roberto and you should list your program you used anyway, or it should be apparent by the WIP thread.

#15

Thats true, but this doesn’t answer my question.

#16

I understand where Roberto and BertieRooster are at, but it is interesting to note that this particular challenge topic would have lent itself very well to using several of the world/matte painting apps out there. And Vue and Terragen arent the only ones…

Several high end major studios use both of these applications for creating matte paintings. Terragen/Engen was used in time machine, Stealth, and I believe most recently in GIJoe. Vue was used to some extent in the latest Caribbean installment. These are both legitmate tools used by the professional industry for a specific need.

Its understandable that when someone says “model” we have a tendency to think that the only way is through box modeling and sculpting. And Im sure it can be done well, dont get me wrong. But to be fair, making very realistic terrains and environments procedurally is very challenging. You need to understand math and functions in order to achieve the realism as seen in the high grade terragen renders. And sometimes doing things procedurally just simply makes sense for the project. An experienced user of any of these apps will quickly recognize a one-button-click terrain / atmosphere…

So my point here really is, that these tools ARE used professionally in the industry, and even if its not appropriate for this particular challenge, I could see it being a good challenge in and of itself…

:slight_smile:

#17

Interesting Mini challenges ! i like the whole idea .
about Vue/Terragen issuse , i believe if we use them, we will get more quality, and this is very important .
so i am asking to reconsider of not using those tools…

#18

don’t these programs negate the idea of “hardcore modeling” we have a month, that should be plenty of time to model everything by hand. i still don’t understand how using these programs would be different than using poser or one of those that makes different body shapes based on settings and using that for a human in a HMC.

“You may NOT use a pre exiting models. All models must be done from scratch.”" doesn’t this say it all?

more quality what? renders? is that the goal of this or are the models?

i realize that the procedural nature of these programs would make it easier, but is it supposed to be easy? and i can understand that they are used in pipelines but once again what is the end goal of these challenges, not animation or illustrations, but models right?

please note i’m not trying to be difficult, i’m trying to add to the discussion because i’m unclear about all of this as well and these are just my thoughts.

#19

spaceboy412:

I have posed this question to Roberto in the other thread asking about how to qualify for voteing with a nature landscape.
And the answer is: judging will be made on the wip of creating the models, (mountains, rocks objects, etc.) the landscape trees and atmosphere are not part of the judging basically.
Just the actual modeled meshes.
If you look at the referance images in my wip thread you;ll see that the majority of the scene is mountains and large hard-cut rocks and close up objects.
All of this will be modeled by hand in zbrush and/or maya.
Which will be displayed in the wip thread.

So while i see what your talking about, at the same time understand that the rules are being followed and us, the artists, are the judges so judge artists on what you think is good and fair and leave others to do the same.

This is my first HCM challenge and its one that i think i would be good at.
I may not win as i am up against true modeling masters but i am going to have fun anyway and do my best.
That is all that is asked from anyone here.

Yes vue/terragon would make all of it very easy and defeat the purpose but that is not the case here. I plan on being judged on the models that i will model not the “fringe” in the scene. :smiley:

#20

i don’t see where robert says trees are exempt, perhaps i’m missing that?
i still don’t understand why as i said in the other thread, you don’t model a few trees and plants and then populate using those. is there some reason you can’t do that?

i find it interesting you call these things fringe, they are just as important as every mountain peak and stone, they are the details.

my thinking, and i may be wrong on this, is that if it can be modeled, it should be, isn’t that what makes it “challenging”?

i’ve only written this stuff because i’m unclear as to what the rules are, and what we should judge by.

i hope everyone has fun doing it as well.